INDIAN METAL & FERRO ALLOYS vs MINERALS & METALS TRADING CORPN.OF INDIA

The Supreme Court addressed whether the National Awards, including Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards, qualify as 'Titles' under Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. The Court held that these awards do not constitute titles as defined by the Constitution, thereby affirming the legality of their conferment. The judgment clarified the distinction between honors and titles, emphasizing that the National Awards are not conferred for personal merit in the sense of titles that are prohibited under Article 18(1).